Melissa Hunter NEW MADRID — Melissa "Missy" Dawson Hunter, 53, died June 21, 2011, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born Sept. 15, 1957, daughter of Catherine Hayden Dawson Cook of New Madrid and the late George W. Dawson Sr., she attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and graduated from New Madrid High School in 1976. She also attended Arkansas State University-Jonesboro. A founding member of the New Madrid Association of Young Women, she served on multiple committees. She was a past president of the Board of Trustees of the New Madrid Historical Museum, served as a chairman of the New Madrid County Bike-a-Thon to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital, was a member of the New Madrid Agri Women's Association and was life-long member of the Immaculate Conception Parish, where she was an active volunteer for Immaculate Conception School. She enjoyed life and never met a stranger. She loved her family and had a truly giving spirit. On Aug. 5, 1978, in New Madrid, she married Samuel Latham Hunter III, who survives of the home. Other survivors include: one son, Samuel Latham Hunter IV and his wife, Jessica and their daughters, Genevieve "Evie" Rose and Lucy Mae, all of Cape Girardeau; two daughters Laura Dixie Hunter of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., and Patricia "Patti" Dawson Hunter of the home; two brothers, George W. Dawson Jr., and his wife, Jane Ann, and Hayden Kevin Dawson Sr., and his wife, Lisa, all of New Madrid; two sisters, Malinda Dawson Grunwald, and her husband, Jeff, of Memphis, Tenn., and Dixie Dawson of St. Louis; and her stepfather, Bill Cook of New Madrid. She was preceded in death by one brother, Paul Joseph Dawson. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at Richard Funeral Home where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Immaculate Conception Church with the Rev. Dave Hulshof, pastor of St. Vincent's Parish in Cape Girardeau, officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Kevin Dawson, George "Gee" Dawson III, Hunter Doyle, Patrick Doyle, Joseph Hunter, Jeffery Hunter and Ben Kelly. Honorary pallbearers will be: Trey Hayden, Thomas Broughton, Howard Edward Crisler, David Luke Hunter, Whitson "Bud" Henry, Lynn Bock, Riley Bock, Jimmy Hayes and Kevin Ivy. --- Memorial donations may be made to: Immaculate Conception School 560 Powell Ave. New Madrid, MO 63869 or New Madrid Historical Museum 1 Main St. New Madrid, MO 63869